Baby Bump Wednesdays: 36 Weeks!

How far along: 36 weeks
What Fruit or Vegetable size is Baby: Crenshaw Melon/Honeydew Melon
What’s going on with Baby’s development: Sydney is almost ready to breathe on her own. In another week she will be considered full-term. Her skin is smoothing out and her gums are rigid, plus Sydney’s liver and kidneys are working. And basically good to go are her circulation and immune systems.
Total weight gain: 36 lbs.
Stretch marks: This girl is determined to give me new ones, the way she hangs “out” literally.
Sleep: Can’t get enough of it due to being uncomfortable or being interrupted to pee or just due to my normal schedule.
Best moment of this last week: Cameron getting home on Sunday. I missed him so much.
Miss anything: The big ones right now are wine and running. Oh and just being comfortable.
Movement: Seems constant sometimes and quiet at other times
Food cravings: None right now – can’t actually eat any big meals these days.
Gender: Girl!
Labor signs: None. 3 (21 days) weeks to go!
Belly button in or out: Out
Wedding rings on or off: Off
Mood most of the time: Tired and cranky. 21 days seems like a long time from now.
Looking forward to in the next week: Dinner with London’s best friend, Evan’s mom Kristin next week.

Let the weekly doctor appointments begin! We were scheduled to see our Nurse Mid-wife yesterday but scored and got to see Dr. Gordon who will be delivering Sydney instead. Dr. Gordon was with our other doctor over at the hospital assisting in an emergency procedure when we arrived for our appointment so our nurse mid-wife was behind in seeing patients as she was seeing patients scheduled to see her as well as the other two doctors. Well, Dr. Gordon finished assisting just in time to see me, which was great as I had some questions and concerns to run by her.

With my parents in town and Vicki & Joe visiting last Saturday, we got on the subject of the delivery as well as my delivery with London. Bringing up the memories reminded me of things I would have liked to have changed with London’s delivery if I could. Hind sight is 20/20, right?

Well, one of the major changes would have been the second anesthesiologist I had during my labor and delivery. The guy wasn’t horrible but he wasn’t the nicest guy either. And I understand it was 3 AM, but all the same I would prefer to avoid him if I can this time around. Dr. Gordon is more than happy to oblige by requesting an anesthesiologist she thinks will be better suited for me to help make this delivery much smoother and better.

With London, I didn’t really have a birth plan – all I knew is I was completely open to an epidural and would not be disappointed if the delivery ended with a c-section. Now, I definitely have a few more things in my birth plan to review with both the nurses and the anesthesiologist when we arrive at the hospital early Wednesday morning, October 24. I figure I will have these requests written out and packed, ready to review when I am speaking with each that day. I have to say, knowing somewhat of what to expect helps a whole lot. You can be told so much preparing for the birth of your first, but only real experience will truly help you have a plan on action you can hope to follow the second time around.

My mom was a huge help last week as well, getting Sydney’s room vacuumed and steam cleaned, as well as getting all the clothes cleaned and folded for me. Just take a look at all the to-dos she helped me cross off:

I’ll have Cameron raise the crib mattress soon. And while all the newborn baby gear is out – I still need to sort through and put it away in the appropriate areas. I was able to get the girls’ bathroom in order over the last two nights while London played in the bath – they’ve been painting at school and she has come home covered in her favorite color, blue. Luckily, it washes off very easily.

All in all, I am ready for this pregnancy to be over and have Sydney here. I grow more and more uncomfortable as the days go by. Sydney loves to hang out literally, so I look like and feel like I have a bowling ball in front of me, throwing my balance way off. To compensate for the balance issues, my back is tied up in knots. Even lying down can be difficult as finding a comfortable position is a task in itself. Last night I literally had to get out of bed and lay my elbows on the bed and lean over to feel comfortable for a bit – not great for actual sleep.

And the 103 degrees weather we had yesterday was ridiculous. This is October! My feet have swollen up so much that I can only wear flips flops and yesterday even my hands swelled up. Today, my right hand is still pretty swollen. Dr. Gordon said my blood pressure is perfect so there is no cause for concern, just to keep drinking water as much as I can. I think these next 3 weeks are just going to get worse and worse until Sydney arrives.

Next week will be interesting too, given Cameron will be gone for his new job and it will just be London and I. Luckily, since London doesn't have school Monday, Vicki is taking her Saturday night through end of work day Monday for me and then London's best friend, Evan's mom is making us dinner on Wednesday, which should help break up the week and keep us active. And Cameron won't be gone as long as he was for Canada.   ~ Sarah

London’s New Room Update: She's moved in!!!!!!!

First night in her Big Girl Bed!

There is a light at the end of the tunnel! Finally! I may even have the loft back in functioning form by the time my mom heads home! This is in large part thanks to my dad, who spent Monday afternoon completing the painting of London's room and then Tuesday building her bed. As soon as I got home from work, my mom and I set about to making London's bed with all the pillows, sheets and blankets and then I spent the next hour moving her personal items from Sydney's room, and clothes, and putting them away in the new room.

All Made Up With the Pillows. The bedspread is currently folded up at the foot of the bed. It's still too hot for a comforter these days. Sunday its expected to be 96 degrees!

London was quite excited about her new bed, particularly jumping on it while we were trying to make it up! And she went down better than I expected. To be honest, the transition has been pretty smooth, which makes me feel like she was quite ready for the switch. This eases my mind and has me hoping the addition of Sydney will go better than I expect.

Every night before bed, I sit or lay down with London in her bed and read her a book or two (or like last night try to read her a book 3x!). Then we turn on her Twilight Ladybug, turn the lamp off, turn on her Lamb which makes wave sounds for 45 minutes and her seahorse that plays lullabies. When I leave she is usually crying for me to stay but within 15 to 20 minutes there is no noise from her room. I sneak a peak when I head to bed, and I have found her under covers with her head on the pillow, holding her Minnie Mouse close and the seahorse and lamb nearby - which is funny cause I keep putting it at the foot of the bed!

She isn't completely moved in, and may not be for a while, as my energy levels are drastically reducing day by day, but once her daddy is home, we can work on more of the final touches and get her closer. For the most part, this to-do list is done!:

Someday a dresser will be seen from this angle. I've since moved in her bedside table and lamp.

The dresser is coming along slowly. While I was able to prime the dresser last week, I did have a few nights where I lacked any and all energy and therefore didn’t start the actual painting until Friday night. And I can currently only do one color at a time due to my design plan. 

Didn't have time to get the curtains up Tuesday night as well. We got them up Wednesday.

Plus, because of the brightness of the colors I picked, it takes several coats to get it to look right. Oh well, it will be done soon enough, I am sure. For the time being, I have some shelves in the closet that is enough hold her clean clothes while we wait. Half of the reason the project is dragging is the waiting for the paint to dry between coats.

Once I have the good camera back (and the room is more pulled together) I will take some true after shots of the room. Until then,you'll have to deal with my phone's camera.
And with London out of Sydney's room, my mom has been able to get all the washing of clothes done for Sydney. Last night I spent a good 30 minutes putting most of them away and even set aside an outfit for her to come home in. I'm hoping to have some energy tomorrow to really tackle the Loft and Sydney's room, so that I can feel we are ready for her. There are a few things I need to pick up at Babies R Us and Target still too, which will likely happen tomorrow. I'm sure my mom will be ready to get out of the house more than just taking London to the park.

And London, Tulley and I are definitely looking forward to Cameron's return. I can tell both are missing him as much as I am at this point. Too bad its only for a week.

~ Sarah

Baby Bump Wednesdays: 35 Weeks

How far along: 35 weeks
What Fruit or Vegetable size is Baby: Honeydew Melon/Coconut - I must have been anticipating this as I ate a bag of dried young coconut meat last week!
Average Size: 17.2-18.7 inches, 4.2-5.8 lbs (I'll bet she is on the longer side)
What’s going on with Baby’s development: Sydney’s kidneys are now fully developed and her liver can process some waste products. From here on out she is mainly putting on weight and may grow a little longer. Sydney’s sense of hearing is also fully developed and could possibly respond to high-pitched noises.
Total weight gain: 34 lbs.
Stretch marks: While I am quite good at using the Bio Oil I now know I will not escape some new ones – there is just no more room to stretch and I can see a few new angry ones.
Sleep: Restless. Kinda getting used to it. It was nice to sleep in this weekend with my parents getting up with London for me.
Best moment of this last week: Taking London to Fairy Tale Town with my parents and watching her eat her first ice cream cone.
Miss anything: Alcoholic drinks, running, spicy tuna rolls, being able to bend over easily, not being pregnant, having my body be my own
Movement: Seems constant sometimes and quiet at other times
Food cravings: None right now - my mom is feeding me well
Gender: Girl!
Labor signs: None. 4 weeks to go! Let the countdown begin! 28 days to go!
Belly button in or out: Out
Wedding rings on or off: Off
Mood most of the time: Going back and forth between tired and energized.
Looking forward to in the next week: Seeing my husband – I do miss him when he is gone. Although, having to share the bed with just Tulley has been nice. Also, getting London settled into her new room and big girl bed and getting the loft picked up and all things organized for Sydney's arrival. 

Sydney and I now get to see the doctor once a week, but when you look at it, that is only 3-4 appointments, depending if they want to see me the week of the c-section. We saw the doctor Monday, where I was told everything looked perfect and sounded perfect. We just have to continue like this to make it to the scheduled due date, which I can hardly wait for and at the same time do feel there is still a bit to do before then.

Having my parents here has been great. Though London would normally have been in day care yesterday during my appointment, it was an afternoon appointment and I would have had to run home to pick her up. Instead, she was already home with them, and I was able to run several errands to get lunch makings and dinner makings for the week, as well as some last little stuff for London’s new room, like a secondary window lock for the window, a baby gate to place outside her room so she doesn't wander when we are asleep, and a bed guard rail so she doesn’t hurt herself rolling out of her new big girl bed - not that she is much of a mover when she sleeps.

All of us were remarking how far along bed guard rails have come since my day. I still remember mine – it was a bronze color, metal one with two horizontal bars. Not that the metal ever bothered me. London’s is mesh and on a normal bed can be flipped down for easy entry and exit. Of course, I picked a bed for her that it doesn't quite work as well on, but its enough.

And having my mom here means I am eating quite well. That’s probably why I haven’t craved anything – one night she made a bruschetta mixture using some of the last tomatoes from our garden and the yummy garlic bread from Costco, which she melted fresh mozzarella on top of first; and another night she made pasta with the fresh tomatoes, a red onion and Alfredo sauce.

~ Sarah

Weekend Update: A Long (& Needed) Weekend with the Parents



Riding a horse pulling Cinderella's Pumpkin Coach

Leave it to me to get heartburn for the first time during this pregnancy at 3 AM Thursday night, Cameron’s first night away off on his trip to Canada, who coincidently took all the Tums in our house with him! It was luckily quite mild and I was able to get back to sleep once I propped myself up on a stack of pillows and after drinking some water.


And while the heart burn wasn’t fun Thursday night, it’s a good thing I woke up as I quickly learned that I had locked our poor Kelsey Lou in the garage just prior to my going to bed! Poor thing was scared beyond belief and so relieved when I came to rescue her. She purred in my arms the whole way back up the stairs and snuggled with my while I tried to go back to sleep.

The more than usual disturbed sleep made for a rough Friday. Luckily, I have a wonderful and understanding boss who said I could start my weekend early. While it only started an hour early, it was just what I needed. I was able to go home, get comfy and rest while I waited for my parents to arrive.

The Pigs Squealed for Attention and then when they had ours, came over and turned their backs on us!

My parents were able to arrive just in time to go pick up London from day care. That girl gets the biggest smile on her face when she sees her grandparents for the first time after a long time. As soon as she saw them, she stopped climbing up the slide the wrong way and ran to my dad for a big bear hug. Of course, she had no problem with Grandpa carrying her to the car, yet will fight me every step of the way most days.
Friday night we laid low, all of us just relaxing and catching up. Saturday, we headed up to Chico so I could get my hair colored one last time before Sydney arrives. This will be the farthest I will be from home now for a while; probably until Sydney is a month old and I go back to get my hair done again. While I was occupied, my parents took London to the Farmer’s Market. Unfortunately, we forgot the stroller, so they spent most of the time chasing her around. But they did run into some old friends and thankfully, they really didn’t have a shopping list to fulfill.

My hair was done just in time for lunch, and we headed to Tres Hombres. The Tostada salad was delicious as always, but unfortunately, the service was slower than ever. It took 45 minutes just to get our drinks! That’s a little absurd when all we ordered was a beer and a virgin margarita for me. While we were waiting Gene Moffett was able to stop in to say hello and catch up briefly with us before he had to run back to the hospital as he was on call that day.

On the way home, we stopped in at McDonalds and got London her very first Vanilla Ice Cream cone (she has had ice cream a few times, but not in cone fashion). She was determined to eat it all on her own. The look on her face when he Grandpa took the cone away for a moment to catch some drips on one side was priceless! She only accepted a spoon when she had gotten down to the cone and needed to scoop the ice cream out. And she got most of it out!

Sunday my parents’ friends Jim and Kathy came for lunch. It was great to see them and we all had a lovely light lunch of Chinese Chicken Salad from Costco, the Garlic Bread from Costco that has actual cloves of garlic in it, and fresh fruit. I could not get enough of the bread. After lunch, my parents headed to Thunder Valley Casino to spend some more time with Jim and Kathy, and to gamble a little. According to them, the slots there are very tight. London and I got a few of our usual weekend to-do accomplished with the downtime.

Our weekend didn’t end there, either, as I took Monday off from work. I really needed that extra day and it was quite a successful day, too. We started the day off by visiting Fairy Tale Town, a first for all of us. We got there around 10 AM and it was dead. Perfect for us to wander and explore. London found any and all slides possible to go down, 5x each it seemed. And she loved seeing all the animals from the chickens (bock bocks as she calls them), to the Donkey, to the pot belly pigs and bunnies. The pigs were quite squeally that day and could be heard from all over.

Well, almost all animals. There was one slide called “Owl’s House” in the “Pooh’s Corner” section of the park. I had followed London up the windy staircase until she was safely at the top. I figured she would beat my down. When I got down she had still not come down the slide. We could hear her and she was calling for me. I had to go back up the stairs, where I found her stuck against the wall of the house across from a fake Owl, the kind of Owl you see at the top of telephone wires to scare other birds away. And admittedly, as a little kid I could see why she was scared. They aren’t made to be friendly and it definitely didn’t look anything like Owl from Winnie the Pooh! With my help, she made her way over to the top of the slide and headed down, crying wee the whole way.

That’s where all these pictures are from. Sorry for the poor quality and lighting. They were taken with my cell phone as Cameron has the good camera up in Canada with him and I discovered the battery in our old, small camera is dust as I could only take two pictures on it before the just-charged battery died!

Stay tuned for information on how the rest of our Monday went in London’s New Room Update this week as well as Baby Bump Wednesday.

~ Sarah

Baby Bump Wednesday: 34 Weeks!

How far along: 34 weeks
What Fruit or Vegetable size is Baby: Cantaloupe/Butternut Squash
Average Size: 17.2-18.7 inches, 4.2-5.8 lbs
What’s going on with Baby’s development: Sydney’s central nervous system and lungs are maturing so she is even closer to being ready for life outside me! Supposedly, Sydney could decide to descend lower in my tummy around now so I might be able to breathe easier – that is not the case, yet at least! Sydney is a high-dweller playing in my ribs and hurting me sometimes when she makes sudden movements up there.
Total weight gain: 30 lbs.
Stretch marks: Cameron and I think there may be 1 new one. The whole tummy looks to be getting a bit angry these days.
Sleep: Restless – more crazy dreams and getting warmer each night, even as it is getting cooler outside. It also doesn’t help that Kelsey is seeking out this warmth and wakes me up when she walks on my side-belly!
Best moment of this last week: Enjoying the company of friends for an afternoon BBQ to celebrate Sydney’s pending arrival.
Miss anything: Wine, Corona, running, spicy tuna rolls, being able to bend over easily, not being pregnant
Movement: Oh yeah – and it hurts sometimes
Food cravings: None right now
Gender: Girl!
Labor signs: None. 5 weeks to go! So close yet so far away!
Belly button in or out: Out
Wedding rings on or off: Off
Mood most of the time: Tired more often than not. Makes getting things done even harder.
Looking forward to in the next week: My mom and dad’s visit!
I’m hitting a wall and this does not bode well for me regarding all that still needs to get done! Cameron has restricted me to only a ½ hour to an hour of doing anything at all before he is ordering me to sit down.

We were thinking of asking work if I could work from home some more in October as we get closer, but given my nesting instinct being in overdrive we’ve decided it is actually better I get up and go so that I am forced to sit at my desk at work versus working in home to dos in between actual work. And with Cameron’s new job starting on the 8th we need to do everything we can to avoid an early arrival. My energy levels are so low I have been in bed by 8-8:30 several nights now.

Saturday was wonderful to see some of our friends, some of who we haven’t seen in quite a while, and they all brought little gifts along for Sydney. These will definitely help us out. While we don’t need much to prepare for her, there are a few things, and the help is always appreciated.

We all were a bit bummed that we won’t be holding our annual Halloween party this year due to Sydney’s arrival, but given Sydney is arriving right around the time we always hold it we’ll never skip it again. We figure we’ll have a kids’ party in the early afternoon and an adult party in the evenings. Syd will either love or hate Halloween. My guess is she will love it.

And while I am going to miss Cameron while he is away in Canada this next week, I am so excited to see my parents. We’re even pulling London out of daycare for the week so she can get spoiled and I am taking a day off to enjoy the time they are here before Syd arrives.

Plus, they are taking me up to Chico on Saturday so I can get my hair done one last time before she arrives. A girl’s gotta have her priorities, right? Hard to believe that when Cameron gets back and my mom leaves we’ll be just over 3 weeks out from her arrival.

As for my having to deal with Tulley while Cameron is away? Not sure how fun that will be. The dog is aching for hunting season and when she sees him packing up the truck with his gear tomorrow, boy am I going to get it when I get home from work without him!

~ Sarah